‘Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe’ First Look

On September 8, Variety reported that a film adaptation for Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s multi-award-winning LGBTQ+ novel is set to be screened and premiered at Toronto International Film Festival this Friday.

The 2012 YA novel, Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe, follows two Mexican-American teenagers who who form a unique bond after a chance meeting in the summer.

An exclusive clip spotlighting the characters’ first meeting was also revealed, highlighting Ari and Dante bonding over their names.

Aitch Alberto is the screenwriter and director behind the project with Max Pelayo (Ari) and Reese Gonzales (Dante) starring. Kyra Sedgwick and Eugenio Derbez (Ari’s father in the film and well-known Mexican actor), and Lin-Manuel Miranda are high-profile producers attached. Additional cast includes Eva Longoria, Luna Blaise and Kevin Alejandro.

This film marks Alberto’s “feature debut” stated in TIFF’s official film page for Ari & Dante. Financing and production for the adaptation came from Limelight, 3Pas Studios and Big Swing Productions, associated with Boies Schiller Entertainment, as reported by Deadline in 2021 when initial casting was announced.

According to a Publishers Weekly interview from 2021, it was over a 5-year process getting the novel adapted to screen. An exclusive first look still was initially revealed through Twitter during August.

Dante can swim. Ari can’t. Dante is articulate and self-assured. Ari has a hard time with words and suffers from self-doubt. Dante gets lost in poetry and art. Ari gets lost in thoughts of his older brother who is in prison. Dante is fair skinned. Ari’s features are much darker. It seems that a boy like Dante, with his open and unique perspective on life, would be the last person to break down the walls that Ari has built around himself.

But against all odds, when Ari and Dante meet, they develop a special bond that will teach them the most important truths of their lives, and help define the people they want to be. But there are big hurdles in their way, and only by believing in each other―and the power of their friendship―can Ari and Dante emerge stronger on the other side.

Are you looking forward to the Ari and Dante film adaptation?

Aristotle And Dante Sequel Gets A Cover Reveal

On March 2, it was announced through HuffPost that Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s award-winning novel Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe officially had a cover and release date, slated for October 2021!

Set in 1987, the story follows Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza and Dante Quintana who meet at a local swimming pool during the summer. The two build a friendship over the course of the novel and once Dante confides that he’s gay, Ari begins questioning his own sexuality.

According to the article, the highly anticipated sequel will be titled Aristotle And Dante Dive Into The Waters Of The World. The novel will follow Ari and Dante as they navigate the intricacies of their relationship and it’s also stated that “they must also grapple with the era-defining impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”

The full summary states: In Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, two boys in a border town fell in love. Now, they must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence.

Ari has spent all of high school burying who he really is, staying silent and invisible. He expected his senior year to be the same. But something in him cracked open when he fell in love with Dante, and he can’t go back. Suddenly he finds himself reaching out to new friends, standing up to bullies of all kinds, and making his voice heard. And, always, there is Dante, dreamy, witty Dante, who can get on Ari’s nerves and fill him with desire all at once.

The boys are determined to forge a path for themselves in a world that doesn’t understand them. But when Ari is faced with a shocking loss, he’ll have to fight like never before to create a life that is truthfully, joyfully his own.

Cover artists are Mark Brabant and Sarah Jane Coleman, who also designed the cover to the first book which released back in 2012.

Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe is a Stonewall Book Award and Pura Belpré medal winner.

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common.

But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship–the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Aristotle & Dante Dive Into The Waters Of The World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz is set to be released October 12, 2021!